Registered Nurse Salary in Lexington, KY
Registered Nurses in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn a median $79,040 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,786 take-home, or $5,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Lexington, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,559
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,900
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,146
- Kentucky income tax$2,649
- Take-home pay$61,786
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.50% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Lexington, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,270 | $31.86 | $53,226 | $4,436 |
| 25th percentile | $75,860 | $36.47 | $59,660 | $4,972 |
| Median (50th) | $79,040 | $38.00 | $61,786 | $5,149 |
| 75th percentile | $97,250 | $46.75 | $73,959 | $6,163 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $107,880 | $51.87 | $81,065 | $6,755 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,040 buys in Lexington, KY
Prices in Lexington, KY are 7.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $61,786 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,516 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Lexington, KY has 1.3× the national concentration of registered nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Lexington, KY ranks #190 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 190 | Lexington, KY | $79,040 | $61,786 | $66,516 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Kentucky
- Louisville, KY — $84,850
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Lexington, KY?
The median registered nurse salary in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area is $79,040 a year, or about $38.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,860 and $97,250.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Lexington, KY?
On the median $79,040 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $61,786 a year ($5,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,649 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Lexington, KY a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 7.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,516 would in a typical U.S. city. Lexington, KY ranks #190 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Lexington, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Lexington, KY is $1,079 a month ($1,272 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.